General Election 2010: Party leaders take part in VE Day 65th Anniversary service

The leaders of the three main political parties took time out from
negotiations over the formation of a new Government to join the Prince of
Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to mark the 65th anniversary of VE Day.

Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Gordon Brown at the Cenotaph on the 65th anniversary of VE DayPhoto: EDDIT MULHOLLAND

3:12PM BST 08 May 2010

Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg looked uncomfortable as they stood side by side, each wearing dark suits, during a service marking 65 years since the end of World War Two in Europe.

They joined war veterans along with serving soldiers, sailors and airmen at the Cenotaph in Whitehall for the ceremony.

The event recalled the moment that Second World War hostilities in Europe ended on May 8 1945.

On that date Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced the end of the fighting in a message broadcast to the nation but stressed the conflict was still being waged against Japan.

Prince Charles laid a wreath as did each of the modern party leaders followed by military chiefs.

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A minutes silence was observed for the service personnel who had died in the campaign and a bugler sounded the last post.

Camilla, warmly clad against the chilly drizzle in a dark red dress and coat, was pushed to a seat in a wheelchair as she is recovering from a broken leg sustained in a fall while hillwalking in Scotland last month.

A total of 2,000 people attended the service, which paid tribute tot he 580,406 UK and commonwealth forces killed in the six year conflict and the 67,073 civilians who died in the Blitz.

Royal British Legion president, Lt Gen Sir John Kiszely, said: "We are extremely grateful that the Prince of Wales was able to join us in Normandy last year for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

"It is entirely appropriate that His Royal Highness returns again this year to meet with some of those veterans who made victory in Europe possible."

A reading from the diary of Vere Hodgson (1901 to 1979) described the "glorious day" of May 8, 65 years ago.

Laura Crooks, the granddaughter of the Second World War veteran Norman Bowie, 89, from Newcastle, read the excerpt, which told how crowds celebrated Victory in Europe Day in central London.

Mr Bowie was also present.

At one point Mr Cameron, following the reading in his Order of Service, looked up and smiled.

At the conclusion of the half-hour service, the party leaders departed from their places outside the Foreign Office – with the political bargaining no doubt set to resume later.

A spokesman for the organisers of the event said: "This service of commemoration will celebrate the achievements of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the allies in their victory against fascism, but will also pay tribute to the 580,406 UK and Commonwealth forces and 67,073 UK civilians who lost their lives during six long years of conflict."

Among the guests attending were Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup – head of the Armed Forces; Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the First Sea Lord; General Sir David Richards, Chief of the General Staff and Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, Chief of the Air Staff.

Those invited also included representatives of Second World War associations, veterans of the conflict and serving members of the Armed Forces.